What’s the best food to pair with authentic New York-style pizza?
Pasta, of course!
That almost goes without saying because there are so many ways to configure mouth-watering combinations of the two. This often involves pairing the sauces and seasonings of both to find that perfect blend of complementarity. So, what are the best ways to mix pizza and pasta when you visit Russo’s?
Balance Heavy & Light Options - Nothing’s more overwhelming than selecting too many heavy entrees for one meal. Lasagna and Baked Ziti are nothing short of amazing, but you might not want to have them with meat lover’s pizza (unless you’re REALLY hungry). Most dining patrons will take a light pasta (maybe shrimp scampi) and combine it with a compatible pizza (perhaps Truffle Mushroom). There are no hardline rules, however.
Do You Like Sweet, Spicy, or Both? - For making pizza or pasta, there is an array of sweeter or spicier sauces and other ingredients to consider. So, if you’re ordering both entrees, keep in mind your preferences for sweet/spicy dishes. If you’re looking for a more potent pasta to mix with Doppio Pepperoni (which has jalapenos), we recommend the Shrimp Fra Diavolo. That pasta utilizes the potent hot chili marinara sauce, a popular selection among our patrons who enjoy a little kick.
It’s Not Really “Mixing” Per se - We don’t recommend taking a bite of pizza and pasta simultaneously. That’s not the best way to savor the flavors. It’s not a mixture or concoction you’re trying to make. You shouldn’t try to force together wildly different ingredients. It makes more sense to select items that won’t sour your palate with unusual after-tastes.
Finally, don’t forget to master your sauces before visiting an Italian restaurant. There are several, but some of the common favorites are marinara sauce, meat sauce, pesto sauce, EVOO garlic sauce, and ricotta cheese sauce. Russo’s even offers a special Chianti-braised meat sauce with our Spaghetti w/ Meatballs or Italian Sausage. Every food enthusiast has to explore these via trial-and-error to discover your favorites.
We invite you to explore many more pizzas and pastas on our main dining menu. Chef Russo is the master innovator behind countless Italian dishes, giving you limitless variety. Our pizzas use only the best Wisconsin mozzarella, Roma tomatoes, fresh garlic, and other premium ingredients.
Russo’s New York Pizzeria is a franchise restaurant chain, specializing in first-class, old-world Italian entrees. This includes pizza, pasta, calzones, and much more. Contact us anytime to learn more about anything on our menu, and where to find the nearest Russo’s.
It's the perfect time to franchise Russo's New York Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen and we know the pizza business and what it take to fire up your first restaurant. With 50+ locations and growing, our franchisees have created success built on our flexible design starting 1,500 sq ft. We produce a higher average store volume (AUV $1.134M) than industry average by serving authentic New York-style pizza and unique menu items. Ask about available territories!
